West Essex Rally Too Good For Lancers

A little more than a week ago, the Livingston softball team nearly pulled off an upset of then-unbeaten West Essex.

After a late rally and holding off the Lancers in that game, the Knights knew what to expect in Tuesday's rematch.

"After the last game, they were out for blood," West Essex center fielder Christina Galese.

Faced with another deficit, Galese connected on a pair of hits, including one that drove in the eventual game-winning run, and senior pitcher Austin Leigh scattered eight hits and struck out eight to stop the bleeding in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory.

West Essex improved to 13-1, while Livingston dropped to 7-9 and suffered yet another one-run loss. In addition to the 5-4 setback to the Knights on April 24, the Lancers have also recently been narrowly beaten by Mount St. Dominic and Cedar Grove.

 "We didn't capitalize on our opportunities," Livingston coach Jason Daily said. "But I am proud of them because we are staying with some of the top teams in the state." 

The Knights avoided the upset on Tuesday by scoring twice in the bottom of the fifth inning after the Lancers took the lead in the top half of the frame.

Jessica Peslak drove in Livingston's lone run when she smacked a hit that scored Amy Zhou from second base for a 1-0 lead.

But Leigh prevented further damage by striking out left fielder Reid Singer and inducing a ground ball off the bat of shortstop Alex Bell.

The Knights responded in the bottom of the inning when Candice Travis tied the game on Alyssa Witte's hit that was just out of the reach of Livingston third baseman Rachel Wasilak.

West Essex then took the lead when Alexa Ramos scored on Galese's hit to center field off Livingston pitcher Alex Pizzoli.

"It looked good, so I hit it," said Galese, who added she did change her approach the second time facing Pizzoli. "I crowded the plate a little more. I just do what I have to do to get the job done."

So did Leigh, who walked just one, and said her screwball, curveball and changeup were all working well against Livingston. 

"It is really whatever is working while I am warming up," she pointed out.

Daily was impressed with his pitcher's performance as Pizzoli scattered six hits against a tough West Essex lineup.

"Alex pitched great today and it was a [heck] of an effort," Daily said. "They have a big hitting lineup. I'm proud of her."

While West Essex faces a big game Wednesday at home against Mount St. Dominic after beating the Lions 1-0 earlier in the season, Livingston will need to win its next two games against Morristown and Caldwell to automatically qualify for the state tournament by Friday's cutoff.